Martin Callanan is a strong local choice for the North East at the European Elections on May 22

These last 3 days I have been out campaigning for the May 22 European Elections in Newcastle and all across Tynedale for Martin Callanan. He is well known and I am encouraged with the responses on the doorstep. Martin is doing a great job at making the case that we need a strong voice in Europe, to reform and change the EU, so that it works for Britain.

Martin is
- a passionate Newcastle United fan
- worked for Scottish and Newcastle Breweries for 12 years,
- as well as being a Gateshead councillor, before being elected to the European Parliament in 1999. Since then he has been a strong Eurosceptic leader of the Conservatives there, and has a proud record to take to the electorate.
Under Martin's leadership in the EU there are 5 strong reasons to vote Conservative at the European Elections:

1. We have cut the EU Budget ....The first time this has ever been done!
2. We have taken Britain out of the EU Bailout fund .... so that we have not had to bail our Greece
3. We have committed to an EU Referendum .... no one else can deliver this. Labour and the Lib Dems have blocked this in Westminster.
4. We have reformed our border control .... and brought immigration down- it has reduced by a third
5. We have reformed EU Fishing policy ....and ended the bananas policy of discarding healthy fish

I could go on but there is only one choice on May 22. If you want a reformed EU, with a locally born, pragmatic, tax cutter as your representative then I urge you to vote for Martin.

Predictions for 2014

Locally I want to help be part of the team that creates a local community bank in Tynedale, building on the base of the credit union, but expanding its numbers, size and scope so that we have a real local bank to take on the big banks.

Two big elections occur: Scottish Referendum and European Elections
My view remains that we are Better Together and that the Scottish people will agree. I will be campaigning there on several occasions in 2014.
As to the Euro elections I will be fighting hard for us to have a strong voice in Europe, and Martin Callanan is that person.

Syria I fear will be an ongoing civil war, but I hope to get a better understanding of the situation if I get the chance to visit, or meet with certain key players. I will blog much more on this as there are options ahead.

Iran remains, however, the key to improvement in global peace. If the nuclear reprogramming continues then we will all be able to both breathe a sigh of relief, and continue to reduce the wider impact and extent of Middle East conflict. I have not been on a work trip to the region in 2013 - regular readers will know I travel to the region every year. In previous years I have taken myself to Beirut, Israel, Jordan and Turkey.

Sport: as a former jockey and racing journalist I always like each bets: my long term each way tip for the national is Monbeg Dude, owned by Mike Tindall and some rugby mates. Last years third Teaforthree will also run well.
I fancy Rose for the Masters and Woods for the Open, and Europe for the Ryder Cup. Murray to win Wimbledon again would be too amazing, but we have to dream!